14:15 Musselburgh

Tuesday 1 January 2019

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Betway Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 3m 36.0s

Irish Roe¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Atkinson| OR: 139| BF| D

4/1

Decent mare who ran well at Doncaster last time to finish an honourable second. Rasied 1lb but another bold display cannot be ruled out despite her having to give away weight all round.

Form: 2P6-3F2

Aristo Du Plessis¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 137| CD

14/1

Usually goes well here and has won twice over C&D. Last three wins have come at Wetherby but ran fair race at Haydock last time off this mark and not out of it if at the top of his game.

Form: 11-5P16

Nuts Well²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 135| D

16/1

Not digraced when fourth behind Aristo Du Plessis at Wetherby last month on first start back over hurdles after chasing. Ran poorly in this race two years ago on only previous visit though so course may not be ideal.

Form: 5/21-1P4

Scheu Time¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J Nash| OR: 127| BF| D

8/1

In fair form this term winning at Ayr in October off this mark and fourth in decent handicap hurdle at Down Royal. Fell when fancied at Ascot penultimate start and slightly below par in Ireland recently. No forlorn hope though.

Form: 4314F7

Get Out The Gate²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Callum Bewley| T: J S Goldie| OR: 122| CD

6/1

Represents last year's winning connections. Ran three times over hurdles without success last term but showed ability. Won over C&D first start for current yard last time and has fair claims off feasible handicap mark.

Form: 1446-1

Normal Norman⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: David Noonan| T: J Ryan| OR: 120| D

8/1

Won two bumpers last term and scored over hurdles at Market Rasen in October. Fair 7th of 20 in novices handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last time, not beaten far and has claims here off 2lb lower mark.

Form: 1P-2127

Kelpies Myth^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120| CD

15/2

Won bumper here two years ago and C&D winner over hurdles here last term. Third to Chica Buena here in December and now 24lb better off for 8 lengths. Solid second at Carlisle latest in heavy ground.

Form: 10-P832

Chica Buena²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 132| CD

5/2

Massive improver this term Bids for five-timer after running away with listed juvenile hurdle at Aintree last time. Raised 13lb for that and is 24lb worse off with Kelpies Myth on November running. Still improving though and sure to go well.

Form: 621111

Val Mome³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 118| BF

12/1

Relatively unexposed gelding who scrambled home in Bangor novices hurdle in October and failed to score by just a nose over C&D last time on first run following wind surgery. Raised 3lb but appears to be going very much the right way.

Form: 225172

Non-Runners

Night Of Glory⁸⁰

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: I Jardine J: Bruce Lynn

Forecasts

Chica Buena (5/2), Irish Roe (4/1), Get Out The Gate (6/1), Kelpies Myth (15/2), Normal Norman (8/1), Scheu Time (8/1), Night Of Glory (8/1), Val Mome (12/1), Aristo Du Plessis (14/1), Nuts Well (16/1)

This is a good race in which it is hard to rule out any of the 10 contenders. CHICA BUENA has a lot more to do than when routing juvenile rivals at Aintree last time but she is in great form and will make a bold bid for the five-timer. Kelpies Myth appears to have her measure at the weights but is no certainty to reverse the form, while top weight Irish Roe cannot be ruled out after a solid effort last time at Doncaster. Get Out Of The Gate represents last year's winning yard and could have been laid out for this, and Val Mome and Normal Norman are others who are well worthy of consideration .